SIR Alex reveals how his loyal wife Cathy played a key role in all his success, how she talked him out of retiring 12 years ago and how he is now set to repay a lifelong debt to her.

A family photograph of Sir Alex Ferguson with his wife Cathy and their new son Mark

SIR Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to the woman who helped make him the best boss in British football history.

The Manchester United legend lavished praise on wife Cathy for the unstinting support she has shown over 47 years of marriage.

Ferguson’s love for the girl he met in 1964 during a strike meeting at the Remington factory in Glasgow shone through in London yesterday as he faced the world’s media at the launch of his autobiography.

When the Daily Record asked him about Cathy’s role, Ferguson paid his wife a fulsome tribute. He said: “Her job has always been wife, mother and grandmother. That’s what she enjoys.

Andrew Couldridge/Action Images

Alex Ferguson at the launch of his autobiography

“She doesn’t go to games. She has been to a few finals but never watched them.

“She brought up our boys Mark, Jason and Darren, when I was running two pubs in Glasgow and managing St Mirren, and it wasn’t easy.

“She used to say to me: ‘Wait until they’re 16 and they’ll become daddy’s boys.’

“Of course, as they grow up and get older they become closer to you, but they have always had the utmost love and respect for their mum. I would tell her: ‘If I ever said a bad word about you to those three boys they would kill me. You’re still the boss.’

“There’s no doubt Cathy has been a big influence on our family.

“She always waited up for me. Even if I came through the door at two or three in the morning, Cathy would be there to greet me.

“I would say to her over the phone as we travelled home: ‘Why don’t you go to bed?’

She would say: ‘No, no, I’ll wait until you get back.’ For 47 years, she maintained this line.

“I could go about my work in football knowing family life was completely taken care of. Cathy is a remarkable person. The truth about her is she’s never changed.

“In all respects she is faithful to her roots. A house with gates is useful for when Tory politicians come canvassing. Cathy would hear the local Conservatives announce themselves through the Tannoy and say: ‘Sorry, Mrs Ferguson is out. I’m the cleaner.’”

Sir Alex and Cathy first caught each other’s eye when they worked at the Remington factory and he was combining his duties as a union official with a fledgling football career as a striker with St Johnstone.

He started at Queen’s Park, and also played for Dunfermline, Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United before taking his first steps in management at East Stirling.

Cathy was with Alex every step of the way and bore the brunt of the responsibility for raising their boys.

Mark, 45, is now a City trader. Darren, 41, is manager of Peterborough United and his twin Jason is an events company boss. Sir Alex and Cathy also have 11 grandchildren.

Fergie said of his wife: “Without her unstinting support, none of it would have been possible.”

Cathy has also acknowledged that her husband has benefited from a solid family life. She said: “You need something stable, especially if you’re bringing up a family.

“Alex has never left his roots. He mixes with big names but we’re still more at home with friends from Glasgow and Aberdeen.”

Alex Ferguson, My Autobiography is published by Hodder and Stoughton tomorrow, priced £25.